On 17 November 2009, the Faymann Government finally approved the registered partnership bill proposed by the Minister of Justice. The bill provides equal rights in labour, immigration, pension, tax, and civil law to same-sex couples as marriage does to opposite-sex couples. It also allows for someone to change their surname to match their partner's and take a common surname. The bill was passed on 10 December by the National Council ("Nationalrat") in a 110-64 vote. The two governing parties voted in favour, while FPÖ voted against and BZÖ and the Greens voted mostly against. The Greens considered it a step in the right direction, but thought it did not go far enough. On 18 December, it was passed by the Federal Council ("Bundesrat") in a 44-8 vote. On 30 December, the law was published in the Federal Law Gazette, and took effect on 1 January 2010. On 4 January 2010, the first four same-sex couples were registered in partnerships in Vienna.