Eiffel Tower Director Resigns Following Staff Discrimination Incident
Eiffel Tower director resigns after female staff exclusion incident in September prompted closure.
Event / Society
Eiffel Tower Gender Discrimination
Female staff members at the Eiffel Tower were excluded from duties during a Hindu religious group visit in September 2026, prompting an internal investigation that revealed systemic protocol failures. The incident led to employee protests and a monument closure. Director general Patrick Branco Ruivo resigned effective year-end, taking responsibility for the discriminatory practices.
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2026-09-29 to 2026-11-01 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 29 Sept, 14:49 UTC
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What happened
Eiffel Tower temporarily closed following staff discrimination incident
The Eiffel Tower monument was closed for one day following the controversy over the exclusion of female staff during the September 5 visit. This closure was part of an employee protest movement against the discriminatory treatment that had occurred.
Eiffel Tower director Patrick Branco Ruivo announces resignation effective end of 2026
Patrick Branco Ruivo, director general of SETE (the company operating the Eiffel Tower), announced on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, that he will resign from his position by the end of the year. The announcement follows an internal investigation into the exclusion of female staff during a visit by a Hindu religious group.
Female staff excluded from Eiffel Tower during Hindu religious group visit on September 5
Female employees were excluded from their normal work positions at the Eiffel Tower during a visit by a Hindu religious group on September 5, 2026. An internal SETE investigation found a series of dysfunctions and deficiencies in the organization of this protocol visit that led to the exclusion of female staff, which the company characterized as an unacceptable situation.
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