The Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers together with Maison & Partners asked Polish entrepreneurs what their evaluation of the government’s individual actions is and how these actions affect their businesses. Entrepreneurs declare that it is the increase in the minimum wage what will among other things impact their businesses the most. At the same time, the government’s actions in this area are among the worst rated. Most importantly, the study was conducted before the ruling party, Law and Justice, made its plans regarding the increase public.

Out of all the postulates that were announced at the party convention of Law and Justice (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość) last Saturday, the announcement to make the amount of social security contributions for entrepreneurs depend on their income raised the biggest concern. This would entail a surge in burdens for an enormous number of entrepreneurs in Poland, including relatively well-paid freelancers and other representatives of the still weak middle class.

The index measuring entrepreneurs’ mood “Busometr” for the second half of 2019 amounted to 48.8 points (a decrease from 55.6 points in the previous half-year), which means that Polish entrepreneurs’ mood is deteriorating. There is still optimistic sentiment in the labour market segment of the index (57.1 points), but we have a complete decline in investments – 35.4. This is the lowest ever result in the history of the survey (since 2011) carried out by the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers among entrepreneurs from the small and medium-sized enterprises sector.

The Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers published a memorandum of its Representation in Brussels on the greatest threats and opportunities for the Polish economy resulting from the election of new authorities of institutions of the European Union. Therein the Union identifies key challenges and proposes specific recommendations for Poland.

The Polish economy is at a crossroads. The hitherto forces behind our country’s development were, in simplified terms, (1) low costs, mainly low labour costs and (2) operational intelligence and motivation of Polish entrepreneurs. Low labour costs are already a thing of the past – Poles earn more than the Greeks and Portuguese, we are soon to surpass other countries too. The remaining attributes, however, we can still consider our competitive advantages.

We are pleased to announce that on 18th June 2019, the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers signed an agreement on cooperation with the Forum of Polish Entrepreneurship “Korona”. The Forum’s registered seat in located in Vilnius.