So much effort for so little material reward - but then, it could have been so much worse.

Meanwhile, there are occupations which require motivations other than material reward.

The post brought him status and material reward, but its duties made heavy demands on his time.

These better material conditions plus the changed social environment to be expected from the new system would make work motivation without material reward quite plausible.

It can be based on either material reward (compensation or self-interest) or moral suasion (for instance, social prestige or through a democratic decision-making process that binds those involved).