THE DA and Cope said in Parliament yesterday that banning labour brokers would put at least 500000 people out of work.
In their first joint press conference to present a position paper on reforming the industry, the parties said the move would have a devastating effect on the economy.
Instead, the parties said, self-regulation with industry peers was required and would involve, among other things:
l Mandatory registration for all practitioners;
l The establishment of an institute or self-regulatory board that would enforce norms and standards;
l A code of conduct enforced by the board itself - resulting in those doing honest business to push out brokers who exploit workers; and,
l Annual consideration of profit margins and incentives to promote job creation.
The parties said the industry generates more than R23billion a year.