Lebanon’s parliamentary council has ratified the law proposal giving employment rights for 4 lakh Palestinian refugees living in the country. According to Lebanon’s national news agency, the council has amended article 59 of the Lebanese Labour law, which gives the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon a work permit. It is one of the most serious efforts yet by Lebanon to transform its policies toward the refugees, which will allow Palestinians to work in the same professions as other foreigners. Palestinian leaders in Lebanon and human rights workers welcomed the move, but said it is only a first step toward improving the lives of stateless refugees.According to U.N. figures, more than four lakh Palestinian refugees, who fled or were driven from their homes during the 1948 and 1967 Israeli-Arab wars live in Lebanon apart from several lakhs living in other neighbouring countries.