Some call it a weapon against e-crime, others a snoopers' charter. But new regulations mean that your employer is at liberty to read any e-mail you send at work.

Tens of thousands of workers will be affected In Swindon, where much of the industry involves the use of computers. The Government denies its new measures amount to bringing Big Brother into the office.

Department of Trade and Industry Minister Patricia Hewitt said: "This new Act actually makes it unlawful for employers to monitor phone calls or e-mails except in certain specified circumstances.

"So we're strengthening the protection here for employees' privacy. "It is entirely up to the employer to decide whether or not he's going to allow employees to make personal phone calls or personal e-mails.

"None of that is affected by these new regulations, and our regulations do not give employers the right to trample over employees' privacy."

The new rules allow bosses to monitor communications for reasons such as monitoring service standards, preventing crime or unauthorised use and gaining routine access to business communications.

However, Manufacturing Science and Finance Union national officer, Peter Skyte said: "The new law leaves employers free to indulge in Big Brother-type snooping on their employees. The Government needs to look at this issue again."

The TUC said in a statement: "We need a workable code which not only protects workers from snooping employers, but also enables employers to access the information they need to run their businesses."