I'm pretty sure Cuban cigar factories still employ lectors. At least as recently as 2009, when the BBC reported:

    Today, though, the tradition only survives in Cuba, 
    with an estimated 250 'lectores' or cigar readers
    employed at factories across the island†
    

250 may not sound like alot, but it's a small island, where the government oversees production - there are are only a few dozen brands of cigars. So I'm guessing, with 250 readers, most factories have one on the floor.

† http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8406641.stm

That explains why I got one called Captain Underpants one time...

Is there a source for this? I don't doubt you but I'd love to read more about this. That is an interesting fact.

I learnt it on a tour of a factory in Cuba!