Paris' Louvre museum opens but some parts stay closed as staff resume strike

Opening at Paris Louvre museum delayed as employees discuss possible strike

People stand in front of the glass Pyramid of the Louvre Museum whose opening is still delayed following a staff meeting about a strike over pay and working conditions at the museum, the state of the museum's buildings and staffing issues, after a spectacular heist which saw thieves make off with jewels in broad daylight, in Paris, January 5, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

Source: REUTERS

The Louvre museum in Paris - hit by a jewel heist in October and by a workers' dispute - opened on Monday after a three hours delay but some parts remained closed due to the strike.

Staff had met earlier in the day to decide whether to resume a rolling strike, to protest against pay and working conditions. The strike started last month but was called off on December 19 ahead of the Christmas holidays.

The Louvre is the world's most visited museum but it has been left reeling by last October's robbery, when four burglars made off with jewels worth $102 million. The jewels are still missing.

It has also been hit by recent infrastructure problems, including a water leak that damaged ancient books, which have highlighted the museum's deteriorating state.

Unions have said that staff at the Louvre are overworked and mismanaged, and they are calling for more hiring, pay increases and better use of how the museum's money is spent.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters