Story perspectives

Paris Orders Eiffel Tower Probe After Staff Strike

9/8/2026

Summary

Story summary

Operator SETE closed the Eiffel Tower on September 7, 2026 after staff struck over female staff removal.
Operator SETE accepted BAPS’s request to limit women’s interactions.
Female employees were ordered to leave workstations, be replaced by men, and avoid certain areas.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire called the incident unacceptable and ordered an investigation.
The tower reopened on September 8, 2026 after management-employee talks.

History

Historical Context

In 1975, France enacted the Loi n°75-633 on professional equality, mandating gender-balanced hiring in public institutions and sparking nationwide reforms. The French Ministry of Labour reported that by 2020, women comprised only 45% of public-sector employees, far below the law’s 50% target. Today, SETE’s decision to evict female staff from the Eiffel Tower, urged by BAPS and condemned by Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire, echoes the 1975 struggle over gender-based workplace discrimination. The incident revives calls for stricter enforcement of the 1975 equality law, prompting parliamentary reviews and potential sanctions against non-compliant operators.

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Story summary

Operator SETE closed the Eiffel Tower on September 7, 2026 after staff struck over female staff removal.
Operator SETE accepted BAPS’s request to limit women’s interactions.
Female employees were ordered to leave workstations, be replaced by men, and avoid certain areas.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire called the incident unacceptable and ordered an investigation.
The tower reopened on September 8, 2026 after management-employee talks.

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