Tony Hotland, Jakarta – Vice President Jusuf Kalla adopted a soothing approach Wednesday to a seething labor protest outside his office in Central Jakarta.

Kalla sat down with 10 labor union representatives after an estimated 60,000 protesters gathered to denounce controversial changes to the 2003 Labor Law.

"It's still a draft because we have to talk with labor unions and the House of Representatives. We will seek a balance between the interests of labor and the businesspeople," he said after the one-hour meeting with the officials from Jakarta, Banten and West Java.

Kalla, himself a leading businessman, said revisions were needed to reinvigorate the business climate in the country, and thereby the welfare of workers.

"We don't believe the rumor the draft would take effect in May. It's still a draft and it takes at least six months to discuss it with workers, the business community and the House," he said.

Protesters had grouped at Kalla's office after finding out that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was out of town.

Kalla walked the representatives out of his office at the end of the meeting, only meters from the thousands of protesters carrying banners and chanting slogans against the revisions. He stopped twice to wave to them as he returned to his office.

The head of the Bekasi labor confederation, R. Abdullah, said the group expressed strong opposition to changes which it said would undermine workers' rights and welfare.

"We don't want to see any revisions. We don't want to be made the scapegoat for the government's failure to bring in new investment. There are seven problems the government is facing (in attracting investment), and labor is only the last one."

The protesters, who had waited for more than two hours under a baking sun, were not satisfied when Abdullah told them the Vice President said he would try to come up with a law meeting the needs of workers and businesspeople.

They began burning cloth banners and hurling plastic bottles into the Vice President's office compound, as a line of about 25 security personnel assumed a ready position.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani, who accompanied Kalla in the meeting, said the rowdy rally was always under control, with about 4,000 of his personnel deployed. "Pak Kalla was good and responsive in handling the rally," he said.