Japanese football players are to form a union to demand better working conditions, including bigger rewards for international duty, their association said Wednesday.

The Japan Pro-Footballers Association (JPFA), currently representing some 960 players at home and abroad as a fraternal body, said it had decided to register itself as a labour union with the right to collective bargaining and strikes.

The decision was made by a majority vote at a special JPFA general meeting on February 28, the JPFA said in a press release.

"It is aimed at having serious discussions about the Japanese football world in the future," the statement said, adding that the association is following the example of major footballing nations where players are unionised.

The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) has advised the 15-year-old JPFA to launch "union activities as soon as possible," the Nikkan Sports daily said.

JPFA -- whose members include World Cup hero and CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda and Japan captain and Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe -- has been unsuccessfully seeking bigger allowances for international duty since before the World Cup in June and July last year.

They also want salary guarantees for players who sustain injuries during international games.

According to the press release, the players are also demanding the establishment of severance pay to help them launch their second careers after after retirement.

Japan players receive no appearance money but are given a daily allowance of 10,000 yen (120 dollars) for taking part in an international, according to earlier press reports.

A win or draw gives them a bonus payment, the level of which is dependent on the ranking of the opponents.