LUANDA, July 31, 2008 (AFP) - Oil companies operating in Angola will be barred from employing foreigners unless they prove they cannot find a qualified local candidate for the post, state media said Thursday.

'From now on, all employment of foreign staff in oil companies can only occur after the contracting company has proved that there is no Angolan in the domestic labour market with technical qualifications and experience required by the job,' Jornal de Angola cited a government statement as saying.

If the company is able to prove its case, the oil ministry must then give the final go-ahead, according to the report.

Angolan oil workers have long complained of being paid less than their foreign counterparts for doing the same work.

According to OPEC figures, Angola pumped 1.87 million barrels per day in April against 1.81 barrels in Nigeria, becoming Africa's top producer for the first time.

Major oil companies operating in the country include US-based Chevron, French company Total and Britain's BP.