# Hans Cacdac

Hans Leo Javier Cacdac (born March 12, 1968) is a Filipino government official, migrant workers' advocate, and labor lawyer. He currently serves as the Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the Philippines, having been appointed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in April 2024.

## Early life and education

Hans Leo Javier Cacdac was born in Manila to Ilocano and Negrense parents. His father, Napoleon Cacdac, a World War II veteran, began his journey as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) with the US state-run news network Voice of America (VOA), an experience that would later influence Hans's career in migrant workers' affairs.
Cacdac completed his undergraduate studies at Ateneo de Manila University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 1989. He then pursued his legal education at Ateneo Law School, where he obtained his Juris Doctor in 1993. After passing the Philippine Bar Examination in 1994, he furthered his studies abroad, completing his Master of Laws in Comparative Law and Labor Law from Cumberland School of Law, Samford University in Alabama, United States, in 1998.

## Career
### Legal career and early public service

After passing the bar, Cacdac began his career as an associate lawyer and served as the Urban Poor Unit Coordinator at the Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN) until 2001.
Cacdac built an extensive career in Philippine public service, particularly in labor relations and overseas employment. He started his government service as director of the Bureau of Labor Relations under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). He later served as administrator of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board, handling labor disputes and mediation efforts.
In 2010, President Benigno Aquino III appointed Cacdac as DOLE's Undersecretary for Labor Relations, where he worked on labor policy and administration. He returned to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in January 2012 as its administrator, a position he held for four years. During his time at POEA, he focused on regulating recruitment agencies, suspending licenses, and blacklisting agencies involved in trafficking, excessive placement fees, and deceptive practices.
Cacdac's expertise in overseas employment grew as he served as administrator of the POEA. During his tenure, the POEA suspended licenses of overseas recruiters who violated POEA requirements, blacklisting agencies involved in trafficking, charging excessive placement fees, and deceiving domestic workers. This was followed by his assignment as the administrator of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in 2016.

### Department of Migrant Workers

In 2022, Cacdac was appointed as the undersecretary for welfare and foreign employment at the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) under Secretary Susan Ople. Following the passing of Secretary Ople, Cacdac served was appointed on September 7, 2023, as the Officer in Charge of the DMW and as secretary on April 25, 2024. Due to an adjournment by the Commission on Appointments, he was reappointed as interim DMW Secretary to maintain operational continuity.

#### Leadership as DMW secretary

As secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers, Cacdac has prioritized the protection and welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). During the 2024 Israel–Hamas conflict, he played a crucial role in coordinating the repatriation of Filipino workers from Israel, stating, "We stand continually ready to assist and support our kababayans*who wish to go home for safety and security."

## Personal life

Cacdac is married to Ruby Alvarez from Davao City. They have a daughter, Lourdes Severine.