The flexibility factor: How digital childcare solutions are helping women return to work
As we celebrate International Women's Day 2025, the role of technology in reshaping care services is proving to be a game-changer for working parents, particularly women. With women disproportionately shouldering caregiving responsibilities—whether for children, aging parents, or communities—the lack of accessible and flexible childcare has long been a barrier to their full participation in the workforce.
Today, digital innovation is stepping in to bridge this gap, offering flexible, tech-driven childcare solutions that empower working parents to seamlessly balance their careers and caregiving duties.
In Malaysia, women spend 3.6 hours daily on caregiving, compared to just 2.2 hours for men. This imbalance often forces women to leave the workforce or take on part-time roles, limiting their career growth and economic independence.
Traditional childcare solutions, which often lack flexibility and affordability, have failed to meet the needs of modern working parents, especially in a post-pandemic world where workplace policies are increasingly shifting toward flexibility.
Digital innovation is revolutionising care services, making them more accessible, flexible, and tailored to the needs of working parents.
Across the globe, platforms leveraging technology, such as Kiddocare, offer on-demand, flexible childcare solutions that align with the evolving demands of the workforce. These solutions enable working parents—especially women- to access reliable care when needed, whether for a few hours or full days. This flexibility allows them to participate fully in the workforce without compromising their caregiving responsibilities.
By streamlining access to qualified, vetted caregivers through digital platforms, parents can reduce the stress and time associated with finding reliable childcare. As workplaces increasingly adopt flexible policies, these tech-driven solutions complement these changes by offering childcare that adapts to irregular work hours, remote work, and hybrid arrangements.
Moreover, these platforms are creating flexible job opportunities for women in the care sector, enabling them to achieve financial independence while maintaining a work-life balance.
Integrating technology into care services creates a ripple effect, empowering women to thrive as professionals and caregivers. Flexible childcare solutions enable women who left the workforce due to caregiving responsibilities to re-enter and pursue career growth.
By alleviating the mental and emotional load often carried by working mothers, these innovations transform individual lives and drive broader economic growth. When women are empowered to participate fully in the workforce, it benefits their families and the broader economy.
As workplace policies evolve, the demand for flexible care services will only grow. To ensure that digital innovation benefits all working parents, collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil society is essential.
Malaysia's efforts to push for an action plan that increases women's participation in the workforce reflect a growing global movement towards addressing systemic barriers. To accelerate this progress, we must advocate for inclusive workplace policies that support flexible work arrangements and affordable childcare while strengthening support systems for working parents.
These steps ensure that no one has to choose between their career and caregiving responsibilities.
This International Women's Day, we at Kiddocare celebrate the transformative power of technology in redefining the future of work and care. By innovating care services and offering flexible childcare solutions, we're not only helping working parents—especially women- return to the workforce but also creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
Let's build a future where work and care coexist harmoniously, empowering women to thrive in all aspects of their lives.