FLA selects Janet Gilbert as inaugural Eric Biel Fellow for International Labor Rights

WASHINGTON, May 27, 2025 — The Fair Labor Association (FLA) today announced the selection of Janet Gilbert as the inaugural Eric Biel Fellow for International Labor Rights.

The Eric Biel Fellowship honors the contribution of late FLA Senior Advisor Eric Biel to furthering international labor rights by providing an opportunity for law or graduate students to pursue practical work experience and contribute to the advancement of international labor rights in the broader context of the business and human rights space.

Gilbert, a J.D. candidate entering her third year at CUNY School of Law, focuses on applying ethical principles across global supply chains. Her work in corporate engagement, shaped by her professional background as a tailor and garment worker, has prioritized worker-centered strategies, contributing to research on human rights due diligence, risk assessment, and supply chain transparency for organizations including SupplyESChange and Motthida Chin.

“Eric would be so pleased to have Janet as the first recipient of this fellowship, especially given her unique perspective from her experience in the garment industry,” said Dana Rosenfeld, Biel’s wife. “I look forward to following Janet’s progress and to the continued future growth and development of this fellowship.”

During her three-month fellowship, Janet will work with FLA staff on topics including human rights due diligence in the agriculture sector and responsible purchasing practices.

During the 2023–2024 academic year, Gilbert served on the FLA Student Committee, where she authored an article for the annual journal. She has organized and participated in panel discussions on topics including human trafficking in fashion supply chains and practical approaches to environmental sustainability.

Gilbert holds a B.A. in Classics from the College of Charleston and an M.S. in Sustainable Management from DePaul University. She currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.

About the Eric Biel Fellowship

The Eric Biel Fellowship is financed through a fund established by his spouse, Dana Rosenfeld, his children David and Josh Biel, and Dana’s sister and her husband, Jill and Sid Molofsky, other family members, friends, and colleagues. Fellows are chosen annually through a competitive selection process which is managed by an external committee. Committee members include Dana Rosenfeld; Meg Roggensack, Georgetown Law; Sarah Altschuller, Verizon; Sif Thorgeirsson, FLA; and Cindy Lewin, non-profit attorney and executive.

The Eric Biel Fellowship is administered by FLA. Donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of every donation goes directly to the fellowship fund.

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The Fair Labor Association (FLA) promotes human rights at work. We are an international network of companies, universities, and civil society organizations collaborating to ensure that millions of people working at the world’s factories and farms are paid fairly and protected from risks to their health, safety, and well-being.

CONTACT:
Stacy Hope
communications@fairlabor.org