CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France—The board of directors of Essilor International (Reuters: ESSI.PA) has approved a plan to promote employee shareholding, with the long-term objective to boost the amount of employee shareholders worldwide from 20 percent to 50 percent.

“In order to uphold Essilor’s strong culture, we want to encourage the long-term commitment of our employees worldwide through employee ownership, which is one of our great strengths,” said Hubert Sagnieres, Essilor’s chairman and chief executive officer.

“Our goal of reaching 50 percent of employee shareholders is in line with that ambition. The continuous and sustainable growth of the company is founded on the strength of our mission—improving lives by improving sight—and on our desire to share the value generated by Essilor as widely as possible. Our employees’ participation in Essilor’s share capital ensures that their interests are aligned with those of the shareholder community as a whole.”

Employees have always been Essilor’s largest shareholder, and currently own more than 8 percent of its share capital, the company said. Three directors representing employee shareholders currently sit on Essilor’s board of directors.

A majority of Essilor’s employee shareholders are members of Valoptec Association which contributes to the Group’s long term growth, participates in its governance and supports its values and mission. Valoptec Association members meet every year for a vote of confidence on Essilor’s strategy and human resource policy.