An institutional, supervised and long-term solution for the recruitment, training, management and support of foreign workers without employers fees
The Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce (JCC), established in 1908 as a non-profit organization and operating a network of 18 international branches and trade representations worldwide, works to strengthen the Israeli economy by advancing international trade, developing relations with governments and public institutions, and creating practical solutions for the needs of Israel’s business sector.
The continuing shortage of skilled and reliable personnel has become one of the central challenges facing the hospitality, food service, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, logistics and service sectors. At the same time, workers in their countries of origin may be burdened by substantial loans and high recruitment fees, while employers in Israel face employee abandonment, professional mismatches, high turnover and costly workforce allocations that are not fully utilized.
In response to this reality, the Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce established its International Workforce Solutions program—an institutional initiative designed to create a lawful, supervised and transparent process based on a local presence in the country of origin, professional screening, preliminary training, ongoing oversight and full support for both employer and worker throughout the process.
Following discussions with senior officials and governmental representatives in Sri Lanka, the economic and human harm caused to both sides when recruitment is not conducted within a professional and supervised framework became clear. Workers may arrive in Israel after bearing heavy recruitment costs, while employers may receive workers who do not match the position or who were not properly informed in advance about working conditions, compensation and the commitment expected of them.
The program is designed to address the challenges simultaneously: protecting workers’ rights, establishing a zero-employers-fee model, while providing more accurate professional matching, operational stability, reduced turnover and long-term managerial confidence.
The Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce works in cooperation with one of Sri Lanka’s longest-established and leading workforce companies, with more than 40 years of experience, alongside local governmental and professional bodies. This combination enables direct oversight in Colombo and the management of sourcing, screening, training and preparation before workers arrive in Israel.
The Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce’s local branch in Colombo is operated and managed through Global Brand Trade and serves as the operational center of the workforce program in the country of origin.
The branch works with government ministries, authorized authorities, recruitment companies, training institutions, medical centers and local professional bodies. Its on-the-ground presence enables direct oversight of sourcing, registration, screening, examinations, training and document completion.
The Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce is currently advancing, with the encouragement and cooperation of governmental bodies in Sri Lanka, a framework under which the recruitment and deployment of workers from Sri Lanka to Israel is intended to be managed and supervised through the Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce and its local branch in Colombo. The purpose is to establish a single, transparent and supervised institutional mechanism that protects workers’ rights and provides Israeli employers with a professional and reliable source of personnel.
A responsible process cannot rely solely on documents and correspondence. Branch teams operate on the ground, meet directly with the implementing parties, review procedures firsthand and verify that preparations are carried out in accordance with the project and employer requirements.
The local team visits facilities, meets with recruitment companies, training institutions and medical centers, and follows the progress of every stage of the process.
Direct involvement helps identify gaps at an early stage, prevent mismatches and improve coordination between the employer’s needs and each candidate’s skills and experience.
For the Israeli employer, this means one professional point of contact supporting the process from the definition of requirements through final preparations and the workers’ arrival in Israel.
The employer must hold valid workforce allocations approved by the competent authorities and provide the most precise possible details regarding the positions, required workforce volume and professional requirements. From that stage onward, the program coordinates and supports the entire process in accordance with applicable law, the relevant employment track and the authorities’ instructions.
Pre-screening, medical examinations, background checks and police-clearance documentation, identity and document verification, support with B/1 work-visa procedures, and coordination of the required documentation and logistics until the worker arrives in Israel.
Professional teams and dedicated training classes prepare candidates according to the relevant sector and position requirements. A comprehensive profile is prepared for each candidate and provided to the employer before arrival, including experience, training and familiarity with employment and salary conditions.
Through the local network and partner infrastructure, the program can support needs ranging from a single worker to large-scale projects involving hundreds or even thousands of workers, subject to demand, availability and the approved regulatory framework.
In an exceptional case of mismatch, the program assists in examining a lawful and timely solution, including the possibility of transferring the worker to another employer in accordance with applicable law, in order to minimize disruption to operational continuity and assist in releasing the employer’s allocation.
Every candidate undergoes a comprehensive screening process that includes a professional interview, employment-history review, identity and document verification, medical examinations, background checks and police-clearance documentation, together with any additional requirements applicable to the sector, project and authorities’ instructions.
Candidates participate in orientation programs and professional training tailored to the employer’s needs. In the hospitality sector, for example, basic training may cover housekeeping, kitchens, cleaning, maintenance and service. In other sectors, training is adapted to the role and the professional requirements provided in advance.
In addition to professional training, workers receive advance explanations regarding working conditions, compensation structure, working hours, the work environment and the commitment expected of them. This preparation is intended to prevent surprises upon arrival, improve matching and reduce turnover and abandonment.
As part of the professional framework, program clients may receive access to a dedicated Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce digital platform that enables them to view candidate profiles and follow recruitment stages, documentation and operational updates throughout the process.
The platform enables the employer to review relevant professional information, participate in the matching process and coordinate interviews or additional assessments, while protecting candidate privacy and ensuring responsible use of information in accordance with permissions and regulatory requirements.
The International Workforce Solutions program is intended for employers, networks, corporations and organizations requiring an institutional and professional recruitment solution in accordance with approved allocations and applicable legal requirements.
The activity operates as part of the Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce’s international framework, connecting Israel’s business sector with governments, public institutions, professional organizations and business partners through a network of 18 branches and representations worldwide.
The program combines G2G and B2B frameworks, coordination between parties in Israel and countries of origin, professional oversight, process management and ongoing employer support. This framework does not replace the authority of governmental bodies or legal requirements; rather, it supports responsible, documented and transparent management of the process.
The service is provided as part of the Chamber’s vision to strengthen the Israeli economy and its public mission to advance genuine, fair and long-term solutions for employers and workers alike.
The process is managed through ongoing coordination among Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce teams in Israel, the Colombo branch, Global Brand Trade and the professional parties involved in each project.
Working meetings, milestone tracking, document review, training oversight and operational updates provide a complete status overview and allow matters requiring attention to be addressed promptly.
The operating structure is designed to provide the employer with one central point of contact, managerial accountability and a clear process, while maintaining the respective roles and authority of the relevant bodies in Israel and in the country of origin.
The international activities of the workforce program are managed by Amit Shoshan, International Director of the Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce and Head of the Chamber’s local branch in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In this role, he coordinates relations with government bodies, authorities and professional partners in the country of origin, and oversees operational and professional coordination from candidate recruitment through final preparations for their arrival in Israel and ongoing employer support throughout the process.
Contact us with details of your approved allocation, required number of workers, field of activity and position requirements so that we can professionally assess the options available to your organization.
Submit a Workforce Inquiry