Polish firms are worried about potential increases in social security contribution payments required from employers, an unstable exchange rate of the złoty and cumbersome regulations, according to a survey carried out by Grant Thornton during the first three quarters of 2012.

Roughly 80 percent of respondents to the survey said an increase in social security contributions would have a negative or very negative effect on their business. However, in his speech on October 12, Prime Minister Donald Tusk ruled out any increase of the sort in the near future, so that might help quell some of those worries.

Half of the entrepreneurs surveyed said they were worried about the exchange rate of the złoty to the euro. On this front, Poland’s government has little influence, except in the short term.

What it could influence is an area in which businesses say they need help fast – cumbersome business regulations.

Seventy percent of firms surveyed said they expect the government to simplify and liberalize regulations. An example given was building permits.

Today, it takes roughly 308 days to get a building permit. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has promised to reduce this time to 100 days for big investments and 60 days for small investments. The situation has yet to change, however.