A petrol station worker in Bali has gone viral after breaking down in front of Governor I Wayan Koster while complaining about exhaustion amid fuel shortages and long queues across the island.
The incident took place on Wednesday evening, 14 October, when Koster visited a petrol station on Jalan Diponegoro in Denpasar to inspect the situation. A video circulating on social media shows a female worker becoming emotional as she described the pressure faced by staff amid extended operating hours and a steady stream of motorists waiting to refuel.
‘I’m Not a Robot’, Worker Tells Governor
In the video, the worker can be heard expressing her frustration over the demands placed on petrol station staff during the fuel crisis.
“I’m not a robot, sir. I’m tired too,” she said, highlighting the physical strain of serving customers amid prolonged queues.
Petrol stations in parts of Bali had been asked to operate around the clock in an effort to ease congestion and improve access to fuel. However, the extended operating hours created additional pressure for staff, particularly at stations with limited numbers of workers.
According to reports by Suara.com, the incident brought attention to the challenges faced by frontline employees as they tried to maintain services during the disruption. The video prompted discussion on social media about working conditions, adequate rest and the need to consider employees’ welfare during an emergency.
Koster Says There Was No Miscommunication
On Thursday, 15 October, Koster responded to questions about the viral footage. He denied that there had been a miscommunication and said he had simply asked the worker to continue serving motorists who were waiting in the queue.
“I told her not to complain and to serve customers. Even if she is tired, she must serve them; she should not feel tired,” Koster said, as reported by Kompas.com.
He suggested that the employee had been expressing her exhaustion and said there was no further issue between them. Koster also explained that military personnel had been deployed to help support operations at petrol stations at night.
According to his account, personnel were already assisting at 50 petrol stations, out of a planned 66 in Denpasar and Badung.
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Fuel Distribution Disruption Causes Long Queues
The incident unfolded as Bali experienced several days of long queues at petrol stations. The disruption was linked to delays in fuel distribution, including technical problems involving a tanker and adverse weather that affected deliveries.
Officials said fuel stocks at storage depots remained sufficient, but the delays in transporting supplies to petrol stations and a surge in demand contributed to shortages at some locations. The situation led to motorists waiting for hours to refuel, while petrol station staff faced heavier workloads.
