If you want plot a worker's performance graphs (and fire them for underperformance), you don't need any AI or vision or even a computer, just a supervisor who manually counts the workers' outputs.
"Hey number 17, how come you made only has 10 boxes this morning, while number 16's has made 25 boxes already. Work harder!"
Unlike AI stuff, it will only be daily/twice-per-day; but that is still enough for the dystopia that is described in the article.
No, but it adds friction and slows down the corruption. Sometimes that can be just as important as making long term preventative measurements.
A better method of efficiency is also commonly practiced by some factories, which is to pay per unit. This practice ties the earning to the output and is far more efficient. Workers do feel in control and can earn 3X - 4X if they were on monthly salary. However this method is skill oriented and many not be practical all the time, plus it can be a little costly.
The assembly line method is a cheaper alternative, since it forfeits the need for every workers to be equally skilled. The downside to this method is that inefficiency can easily creep in.
a camera pointed straight at your face every working moment
profiling
use of AI
[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43152937