That’s actually (or was) a saying in Czechoslovakia......
It was widespread throughout the USSR ...
https://www.google.com/webhp?source=search_app#sclient=psy-ab&q=we+pretend+to+work+they+pretend+to+pay+us&oq=we+pretend+to+work+they+pretend+to+pay+us&gs_l=hp.12..0j0i22i30l3.106063.106597.1.110802.3.3.0.0.0.0.97.272.3.3.0....0.0..1c.1.20.psy-ab.yaD_-gNR1q8&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.49478099%2Cd.eWU%2Cpv.xjs.s.en_US.c75bKy5EQ0A.O&fp=203013f02c81ca57&biw=1163&bih=593
... and coming soon to the USSA.