Welfare reforms introduced by the UK Government mean work will not pay for many single parents, MSPs have been warned.
The benefits changes also threaten the viability of childcare services, Holyrood's Equal Opportunities Committee heard.
Changes to childcare tax credits mean the amount parents are able to recoup for childcare costs has been reduced.
Satwat Rehman, director of One Parent Families Scotland, told the committee the reforms had created a "confused picture" for parents.
"We have found the change from 80% of costs being met to 70% has made work will not pay for many of the parents we are working with," she said.
"It has made childcare even less affordable than it was before for them."
Ms Rehman said the most recent analysis of the benefits changes showed the lowest income families were the worst-off.
Claire Telfer, head of policy, advocacy and campaigns (Scotland), Save the Children, told MSPs: "We are finding that not only are parents not able to take up work opportunities but they are actually giving up work because of difficulties with childcare."
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